The Iola register., 1887-03-18

carriages. rattling and laundering on
t. the quay; mountains of luggage
piled upon the wharf, or being lowered
into the hold; stalwart Aliases stagger-
ing under the worlds of trunks which
they have shouldered; mates, crews.
porters. cabmen, passengers, boys, all
shouting Justify in solo or chorus; the
ships engine blowing off steam with
deafening roar; timid ladies, making
their first trip, being led trembling
over the plank and up the stairway. and
laid on the sofas in the cabin; old voy-
ayers. with one leg over the rail, smok-
ing their cigars-all conspire to make
the scene one of rare excitement and
confusion.
joey was perfectly at home, and
while his father was busy, stole up into
the wheelhouse. which had incautious-
ly been left unlocked. The wheelman,
coming along soon after. met joey
stealing down the steps. looking scared
and guilty.
Now the gun is fired. The bell rings.
The hurry and confusion are increased
tenfold. Hasty farewells are said;
hasty kisses exchanged; handkerchiefs
are brought into vigorous use. The
throng of friends who have come only
to say goodbye" begin to pour over
the plank to the wharf. The captain
stands on the paddle-box. He stoops
and pulls handle; down i'm the depths
of the monster tinkles bell; in Sec
ond more the paddles dash the water
into foam. The captain stoops and
pulls the handle again; the paddles
stop. but the ship has started enough
to allow the cable to cast off. They
arc all cast off but the stern cable
that still holds, and the head of the
great black monster swings slowly out
into the current: Another pull at the
handle, another splash of the paddles,
and the stern cable is cast of. The
gun sounds; she is loose! A cheer
from the crowd on the wharf, cheer
from the crowd on deck. and the ship
was fairly turned down the stream and
begun the voyage.
In an hour she was at the mouth of
the Willamette. and struck the strong.
full current of the Columbia. Having
more sea-room now. she begins to use
her strength. The flames roar through
the fiues; the engineer turns on a full
head of steam; the clear. sweet water of
the river. cut clean and neat by the prov,
is dashed into snowy foam by the pad
dies, and sinks and rises in swelling
wake for half mile to the stern. Fish
ing boats and Ind an canoes glide past
her like shutties. and before you can
fairly turn to look. are tossing and
rocking on the swell many rods be-
hind.
A black hull. supporting cloud of
dingy-white canvass, is seen ahead. 1t
is the Hudson Bay Company's store
ship, bound for Vancouver. A flash. a
cloud of white smoke, heavy thud,
and she has saluted the OroFino. A
jar and thunder-clap that startles the
old ones. and sets the ladies to scream
ing, and the Oro Fino has saluted her.
Three cheers from the stranger as the
British flag runs up to the masthead.
and three cheers as the stars and stripes
curl and snap in the stiff breeze from
our gaff. Now that she has passed,
and the sun falls full on her canvas.
she seems like great bank of snow
floating up the river.
Nearly every body is tired of watch
ing her, and many have gone into the
cabins to avoid the wind which is grow
ing chilly. and others are composing
themselves in twos and threes about
the deck. when new and more thrill
ing episode calls them all to their feet
again. Dunham and two men come
tearing up the stair case to the quarter
deck. The bell tinkles, and the pad
dies stop.
..Man overboard!' is the cry. Every
one rushes in the stern; every one scans
the boiling current. There, l sec
him. cries one. Hes trcading water!"
cries another. Every body can see him
now; but by this time the tremendous
momentum of the vessel has left him a
little speck quarter of mile behind.
1t takes an age to lower the boat.
Finally it is off-Dunham in the stern.
and the sturdy sailors bending the ash
dangerously. ''Can he hold Out?"
"Gh. yes; can't you see him? He's
treading water" mo. he's floating"
"Anyhow. he keeps up bravely."
'.How slow the boat goesr "Why
don't they pull?" In fact. the boat
was cutting the water like a frightened
fish. Men on the ship involuntarily
bent and strained, as though they could
help in that way. The boat nears the
floating object, now only speck in the
distance. A joyful murmur goes up
from the ship. "He's saved!' ''Oh
those strong men, But Dunham
sheers the boat around. and picks up
only hat and holds it high in the air.
The owner had long since sunk. BY
the time the tired crew were taken on
board and the vessel under headway. it
was dark. They made Astoria by mid
night. and lay to alongside the wharf.
The wind frcshened during the night.
and by morning a heavy gale. filled
with salt spray. was driving in directly
from the sea. The pilot reported that
it would be impossible to cross the bar
in such blow. So they waited. Dun
hams presentment of bad luck had
been strengthened by the loss of the
man from the ship. and he was more